Our latest Vinyl Pulp episode takes a look at the Kidrobot Street Fighter V Akuma 7-Inch. Capcom Street Fighter fans who like these vinyl toys will definitely want to pick this up for their collection.
Vinyl Pulp #15: Kidrobot SF V Akuma 7-Inch
July 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Naruto Ramen Tees
July 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Do you like watching the anime Naruto and eating ramen noodles? This is a cool looking BAIT exclusive graphic tee picturing Naruto eating noodles.
Hasbro Marvel Legends: Iron Man Electronic Helmet
June 30, 2016 by Leave a Comment
It is time for me to upgrade my “cosplay” Halloween Iron Man costume. As you can see from the picture above – that Iron Man helmet barely fit me and yes it’s for kids, but I made it work using red duck tape to help expand the helmet because my head is too big.
Now Marvel will be producing “adult” role play gear. This new Iron Man helmet is badass. This is great for people who want to cosplay but don’t have time to make their own Iron Man helmet. This is the Marvel Legends Series: Iron Man Electronic Helmet with LED light eyes and sound effects.
Figma Samus Aran Figure!
June 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Another cool looking Samus Aran figure version from Figma coming in December 2016. From the hit Nintendo video game Metroid series comes the Samus Aran Zero Suit Version. The action figure sculpt was designed by Max Factory (Masanori Kuroda, Masu). The articulated figure stands around 5.5″ tall and comes with a display stand.
Interview with Artists Scrotumnose & Onihat
May 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We have double the fun in Artist Alley from FanimeCon 2015. Ramen host Eddie Ballar interviews artists David Alegre aka Scrotumnose and Ashley Tahilan aka Onihat. Davie talks about his food pun artwork and Ashley about her cool stickers.
Interview with Artist Whitney Jiar
May 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We take fans into Artist Alley from FanimeCon 2015. Ramen and a Half host Eddie Ballar interviews artist Whitney Jiar about her art work and FanimeCon.
Interview with Jrock band Back-On!
May 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
This video was recorded at FanimeCon 2015, our Ramen and a Half host Eddie Ballar interviews the Jrock band Back-On! The band talks about how they got together and their favorite anime to watch.
Interview with Voice Actress Ai Nonaka
May 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment
With the biggest NorCal anime convention happening this Memorial Day weekend, we had some unreleased FanimeCon 2015 footage that’s out now! From our Retrenders vault, our interview with voice actress/singer Ai Nonaka. Recored at FainmeCon 2015.
Food: Ramen Hunting in Sapporo
April 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Sapporo the capital city of Hakkaido is known for their famous ramen dishes and Only in Japan visits the well-known Ramen Alley aka Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (元祖さっぽろラーメン横丁). There’s around 17 ramen shops in this tiny alley located in the Susukino Entertainment District. Many of these noodle restaurants have been serving ramen since the 1950s.
Frankie’s Garage: “CAR Factory” at YomiuriLand Japan
April 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
It’s time for fun rides at the YomiuriLand amusement park in Japan. On March 2016, YomiuriLand opened a new attraction called Gujjoba aka Good Job Attractions, which is aimed at children about Japanese manufacturing pop culture. It took about 7 years and $90 million USD involved to build the new attractions. It features 4 factories: Food Factory by Nissin Food Products, Stationary Factory by Kokuyo, Fashion Factory and for the car geeks – CAR Factory by Nissan. Nissan Dashboard show takes us on a tour of the CAR Factory.
Pokémon is Twenty Years Old!
April 11, 2016 by 1 Comment
Wow! Pokémon turns 20 years old. CNN interviews Pokémon Director Junichi Masuda about how Pokémon was created and memories of just a small staff of 8 people to make the game. Junichi also talks about the rise and popularity of the video game.
Silicon Valley Comic-Con 2016 Round-Up
April 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Check out our latest Ramen & a Half episode from Silicon Valley Comic-Con (SVCC)! The first SVCC by tech icon Steve Wozniak and comic book icon Stan Lee taking place at the San Jose Convention Center. Our Ramen team roams the showfloor as we talk to the San Francisco Giants baseball team about all the cool special events they will have this 2016 season. Go Gigantes! Next we hit up BuzzingBots with cute robot plush dolls. Ramon visits artist Jesse JFR on his avocado TMNT art and Boba Fett candles. Eddie interviews Kaz over at Plastic and Heroes on their vinyl toy art collectible shop in San Jose. And the Ramen guys close SVCC with special cosplay guest Abbey and Keiko.
The 2016 Silicon Valley Comic-Con!
March 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment
This 3-day weekend in the SF Bay Area will kick-off the first-ever Silicon Valley Comic-Con at the San Jose Convention Center. The merging of technology, gadgets, comics and pop culture are brought to you by geek master Steve Wozniak and comic book icon Stan Lee. Our Retrenders staff and Ramen and a Half film crew will be there all weekend covering the event. So please check our Retrenders’ YouTube channel for more updates and videos!
The First Marvel Store: Marvel Collection Enter-6
March 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
For all you Marvel fanboys and fangirls your next destination might be Seoul, South Korea. The first official Marvel store, the Marvel Collection Store by Enter-6 will have lots of Hot Toys products and official Marvel gear.
Big Boys Toys: Street Fighter The New Challenger Figures
March 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The new offerings from HK toy company Big Boys Toys with their super deformed big head Street Fighter series figure playsets. This is the Street Fighter The New Challenger Figure 02 – Ken and Street Fighter The New Challenger Figure 03 – Chun-Li.
Japan: 2016 Sapporo Snow Festival
March 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Only in Japan takes us on neat winter trip in Northern Japan. Since 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival takes place every February in Sapporo, Hokkaido. You will tons of ice sculptures and of course eat wonderful snacks and food.
Takara Tomy Toy Story Alien Playset
February 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve been collecting the Tomy line of Toy Story action figures from Japan, then this will be a cool addition, the Alien Pizza Planet Playset. The 12″ tall Alien converts into a Pizza Planet playset with various play features and requires 3 AA batteries which are not included.
Japan: Vending Machine Restaurant
February 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Japan is known for it’s high tech and advance vending machines where you can just get about anything. There’s a restaurant with no staff and only vending machines serving food and drinks. Located in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture which is 2 hours from Tokyo, there is a restaurant that uses only food vending machines – the Automat Diner.
Takara Transformers Masterpiece Ironhide MP-27
February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment
One of my favorite 1980s G1 Autobots was Ironhide and Takara just released a Masterpiece version of Ironhide. This is the Takara Transformers Masterpiece Ironhide MP-27.
Jpop: Song for Eating Steak
January 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
When I heard first this track I thought I was listening to funky Jpop rap group HaliCali from years back, but I was wrong. This cute catchy Jpop track is by veteran Jpop singer Ando Yuko who teams up with DJ Miso Soup and MC Rice.
Yummy Food @ the Gundam Cafe
January 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been to Tokyo several times, but have never traveled to Osaka. Now I have a bucket list item to do, travel to Osaka for Gundam Square and eat some food at the Gundam Cafe. I’m not the most hardcore Gundam fan in the world, but I do like many of the animations and bought lots of the snap-on model kits as a kid. But what I really want to do is eat the “anime inspired” food!
CHOGOKIN My Melody (Red)
January 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment
For fans Sanrio-style Chogokin robot toys, Bandai and Sanrio will be offering more of these collabs in the year 2016. The first to drop is the CHOGOKIN My Melody (Red) robot toy on January 18, 2016.
Move over Barbie, meet the Yuna doll
December 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A new line of dolls that is not blue-eyed and blonde. Meet Yuna – the Asian American doll created by the designers of the Uglydoll, David Horvath and Sun Min & Creative Director of Bigshot Toyworks Klim Kozinevich. They have just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new doll line named The Dream Big Friends.
The Blu-ray/DVD Gift Guide 2015
December 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
We are in the “future” of streaming all of our video content, supposedly, but if you’re “old school” like me, that like to have a physical copy of that Blu-ray/DVD movie in your hands, then check out this 2015 Blu-ray/DVD Gift Guide for your nerdy friends or for your own video library.
Once you’ve tasted 1080 HD viewing experience, it’s really hard to go back to standard DVD viewing, so we’ll kick-off the 2015 Blu-ray/DVD Gift Guide with a Blu-ray list first!
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For the first time in North America, we get the “The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki,” which is a Blu-ray Amazon Exclusive. The Blu-ray collection features 11 iconic Hayao Miyazaki films: Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and The Wind Rises. There is also a bonus disc and an exclusive art book.
Funko x BAIT Exclusive Bruce Lee Pop Figures
November 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Funko known for it’s “pop” vinyl figures teams up with street brand BAIT for two Bruce Lee exclusive figures. The first is the BAIT Exclusive x Funko POP Movie Battle Damaged – Bruce Lee (tan/black) and the second is the BAIT Exclusive x Funko x Onitsuka Tiger POP Movie Yellow Jumpsuit – Bruce Lee (yellow / black).
Fans of Funko’s pop figures and fans the martial arts icon Bruce Lee will wanna grab these vinyls.
MSRP: $20.00USD each
Buy it @ BAIT x Funko – Battle Damaged Bruce Lee.
Buy it @ BAIT x Funko x Onitsuka Tiger Pop Movie Yellow Jumpsuit.
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Can’t get enough of Bruce Lee things, then check out BAIT’s Bruce Lee collection of graphic tees, sneakers and other accessories!
For more, go to: BAIT x Bruce Lee.
Edward Ballar
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